Clek Foonf vs Fllo Review 2017

Clek FoonfClek Fllo

Clek Convertible Car Seats

Clek is a Canadian company that has been making child car seats for a number of years. The Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo are their contributions to the convertible car seat market.

They are quite expensive, but that is due to the fact that they are built with lots of great safety and convenience features. They also come in a variety of fabric color styles to satisfy those parents who are looking for a more conservative and traditional look and those who prefer a more colorful funky look.

Not only do they look great, but they both offer significantly highest rear-facing weight limits most (if not all) of the other convertible car seats on the market (50 lbs).

They are also 2 of the narrowest convertible car seats available (17 inches) and you should be able to fit 3 in a row in most standard sized family vehicles.

The bottom line is that, if you can afford the relatively hefty price tags of the Clek Foonf and Fllo seats, they will certainly give you peace of mind when driving around with your precious child onboard.

I particularly like the extended rear facing options on both seats and this alone greatly increases the safety potential of these seats.

Clek Foonf vs Fllo 2017 – The Main Similarities

#1 Child Weight and Height Limits

The Rear-Facingweight limits are exactly the same for both seats at 14 to 50 lbs.

Note: Clek have now manufactured the “Infant-Thingy Insert” that can be used to make the Foonf and Fllo seats suitable for use from 5 lbs! You can find the Clek Inserts here.

The Forwards-Facing weight limits are slightly different though:

Fllo – 22 to 65 lbs

Foonf – 20 to 65 lbs

Note: Although these seats are rated as suitable for forwards-facing use from 20 lbs (if child at least 1 year old), the American Academy of Pediatrics (and Clek) strongly recommends that children should remain rear-facing for at least 2 years and preferably longer. So, do NOT rush to switch your child to forwards-facing mode once they reach 20 lbs. Instead, try to keep them rear-facing for as long as they remain within the height / weight limits for that mode of use. So, the 2 lbs difference between the FF weight limits ought to make absolutely no difference since your child should still be RF beyond 22 lbs anyway. Also, do NOT use the tether when rear-facing (forwards-facing only – see manual for details).

The Rear-Facing and Forwards-Facing height limits are exactly the same for both seats:

Rear-Facing – 25 to 43 inches

Forwards-Facing – 30 to 49 inches

These extended limits make these Clek seats 2 of the longest rear-facing convertible car seats on the US market today. Rear-Facing is said to be more than 4 times safer that Forwards-Facing and any seat that promotes longer Rear-Facing gets a big thumbs up from me!

#2 Seat Width

The Clek Foonf and Fllo are 2 of the narrowest convertible car seats available.

This makes them perfect options to consider for those parents that need to fit 3 car seats side-by-side in a standard sized family vehicle.

They are both just 17 inches wide at the widest point and just 13 inches wideat the base.

#3 Rear-Facing Installation Methods & Limits

Both seats can be installed using the adult seat belt until your child weighs more than 50 lbs.

Note that the Foonf comes with a Rigid LATCH installation system in the forwards-facing mode, whereas the Fllo comes with standard Soft LATCH.

Due to the difference in seat weight, the Fllo and Foonf have different guidelines in relation to when you can install using LATCH and when you must use the adult seat belt instead (See below).

#4 Advanced Side Impact Protection

Both seats come fitted with advanced side impact protection systems.

This comprises an energy-absorbing foam-lined headrest that is attached to the main seat frame using steel rods to better protect the child’s head area in the event of a side-impact collision. There are also foam layers on the inside and outside of the metal seat frame to absorb energy and prevent those impact forces from reaching your child’s body.

There is a slight difference in the overall energy-absorbing crumple systems used by the Fllo and the Foonf when installed in the forwards-facing mode (explained below). The Foonf is fitted with “REACT” and the Fllo is fitted with “EACT” – the only practical difference being that the Foonf comes with a rigid-LATCH installation system and the Fllo does not. This explains why the Foonf gets an extra “R” at the front of the abbreviation since it stands for “Rigid LATCH”.

Aside from the “Rigid-LATCH” difference, both have the same Energy Absorbing Crumple Technology. This EACT/REACT system comprises a series of events which occur during a collision to control the transfer of forces to your child by causing any abrupt change in momentum (i.e. the crash) to occur over a longer period of time.

#5 Metal Subframe & Anti-rebound Bar

Both seats come fitted with a steel and magnesium sub-structure and a steel anti-rebound bar to provide added seat strength, stability and reassurance.

The Anti-Rebound Bar (ARB) is attached to the foot-end of the seat and is designed to manage the rebound or reactive motion in the opposite direction of the impact during a collision.

If the vehicle in which the seat were installed drove into collision with the rear of the vehicle in front, for example, the initial forces involved would compress the seat into the back of one of the front seats. The secondary reaction, however, would cause the seat to rebound back towards the rear of the vehicle and, without an anti-rebound bar, there is a real risk that the child’s head would be thrown into contact with the vehicle seat upon which it sits.

The anti-rebound bar effectively cushions this secondary reaction and reduces the risk of the child occupant injuring themselves as a result of their head striking the seat.

Note: The Anti-Rebound Bar is only used when the seat is in the rear-facing position.

#6 GREENGUARD Select Crypton Super Fabrics

The GREENGUARD Select Crypton Super Fabrics supplied with both seats manage to pass all relevant flame retardancy tests whilst at the same time being FREE FROM bromine and other chlorine-based chemical retardants.

In addition, the fabric of the seat is resistant to stains and liquids.

#7 Some Other Similarities

Here is a list of some other notable similarities between the Foonf and Fllo seats that don’t require any more detailed explanation as they very much speak for themselves:

Built-in Lock-offs

Adjustable headrest

Crypton Superfabrics (waterproof, wipe clean, anti-bacteria)

Height adjustable crotch belt (2 positions)

Side Impact Tested

NCAP Tested

Certified for use of aircraft

9 year seat expiration

Clek Foonf vs Fllo 2017 – The Main Differences

#1 Rear-Facing LATCH Weight Limit

As mentioned above, although both seats have an excellent rear-facing weight limit of 50 lbs when installed using the adult seat belt, they have different weight limits when installed using the LATCH system.

The difference is due to the fact that the Fllo seat is significantly lighter than the Foonf (28 lbs vs 38 lbs).

The Fllo can be installed using the LATCH system up to a child weight of 35 lbs, whereas the Foonf can only be installed using the LATCH system up to a child weight of 25 lbs.

Note: Once these limits are exceeded, you MUST re-install the seats using the adult seat belt.

#2 Forwards-Facing Minimum Weight

The forwards-facing minimum weight limit on the Fllo is 22 lbs.

The forwards-facing minimum weight limit on the Foonf is 20 lbs.

As I have already mentioned, this should not make any real difference to the way in which these seats are used because your child should remain rear-facing way beyond the 22 lbs stage.

#3 Forwards-Facing Installation Methods & Limits

The Fllo comes fitted with normal US Soft LATCH, which can be used until your child’s weight exceeds 40 lbs. After that stage, the seat must be re-installed using the adult seat belt until your child’s weight exceeds the overall 65 lbs limit.

The Foonf comes fitted with European-style Rigid LATCH, which can be used until your child’s weight exceeds 35 lbs. After that stage, you can either use both LATCH and seat belt or just seat belt until your child’s weight exceeds the overall 65 lbs limit.

#4 Seat Dimensions/Weight

Not only does the Foonf weigh 10 lbs more than the Fllo, but it also has larger dimensions.

Whilst, the weight difference probably won’t make much difference to your day-to-day use of the seat due to the fact that convertible seats are not designed to be carried around with your child seated within them, the smaller dimensions of the Fllo might make a very big difference to those with smaller vehicles or those who need to have the front seats pushed back because they have long legs.

The main differences between the seats in terms of dimensions is that the Foonf has more depth and height, which makes it more difficult to install in tight spaces.

There is no difference in seat width.

#5 Some Other Differences

Here is a list of some other notable differences between the Fllo and Foonf that don’t require any more detailed explanation as they very much speak for themselves:

The Foonf has a detachable rear-facing base

The Fllo has an integrated rear-facing recline foot

User Review Videos

Clek Fllo Video:

Clek Foonf Video:

Video Comparison Review of the Foonf and Fllo Seats

Different Fabric Color Options

The Fllo and Foonf come in different fabric color options:

Fllo

Foonf

Where to Buy the Clek Fllo and Clek Foonf Seats

The Clek Fllo is about $80 to $100 less expensive than the Foonf, although this depends upon which fabric color option you choose.

Clek Convertible Seats in Canada

Safety Information

After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.